But Honda will not take its cue from larger Detroit rivals, which customarily idle workers for a week or more.
Jodelle was a rapid worker, but idle and fond of dissipation.
Nearly two years ago, officials here in Saxony hit on the idea of hooking up their idle workers with foreign employers.
But the idle workers have been redeployed in motorcycle factories, whose sales to the Far East are growing.
But Democrats and Republicans are far apart on helping idle workers who have already exhausted the basic entitlement.
G.M.'s retirement benefits do not currently pay as well as the program that pays idle workers for doing nothing.
The principle is clear: To put idle workers and capacity back to work, buy now - but buy for the future.
These idle workers have been receiving the equivalent of about $45 dollars a month from Zastava.
And in the late 1980's, when production did fall sharply, New United found itself with 300 idle workers, 10 percent of its employees.
Wages should fall when unemployment is high and idle workers are eager to land jobs.